The Key to Love

by Callie Bardot

  He kissed her palm, then eased it away from his lips. “So, we’re in glove? That sounds kinda nasty. I like it.” A wicked smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

  “That’s what you said that night in Cancun.” Mia chuckled, her heart rising in her chest like the sun.

  “Maybe I’m smarter than I let on,” he said, still smiling that wicked smile. He placed his palms on either side of her face and brought his lips to hers.

  And then he kissed her. Boy, oh, boy, did he kiss her. The passion in Keys’ kiss swept through her like a bonfire, burning away any doubt or hesitation in its wake. She needed Keys in all his brokenness. If this was what happened when they both opened to one another, she wanted to sign up for the whole program and throw away the disclaimer, no questions asked. Struck with this overwhelming sense that all the broken bits of Keys and Mia could be joined to make a whole, she ground against his erection through the barrier of clothes. Her desire for Keys, to have him inside of her roared insistently, drowning out everything else. She had to have his cock inside her, now.

  While their lips were connected, she began unbuttoning his linen shirt. That done, her fingers slid across his solid chest, exploring the textures of warm skin, chest hair, and muscles.

  He shoved his hands up her stretchy, long-sleeved shirt. His hands kneaded her breasts through her lacy bra, creating an ache of desire in her core. Breaking the kiss, he said, “I’ve got a glove in my pocket. I need to glove up so I can glove you properly.” His eyes looked as wild as she felt.

  “Let’s get that glove and get to good gloving. Which pocket?”

  “Back pocket. I stuck one in there on the way out the door, hoping I’d get lucky with you.”

  “Lean forward,” she said.

  He did so, sliding her shirt up over her head and tossing it on the floor.

  As she fished in his back pocket for the rubber, he suckled her breasts into pleasured agony.

  “Oh, God, Keys, I can barely stand this.”

  After releasing her nipple, he let out a low, satisfied chuckle. His palms gripped her waist.

  Rubber in hand, she ripped it apart, unzipped his jeans, and rolled it over his solid erection. Then, she slid her feet to the ground and stood, while Keys yanked her stretchy pants to her ankles. She managed to maneuver one foot out of the pants leg. Then, she shimmied onto the sofa with her legs on either side of him.

  He latched onto her nipple once more, eliciting a groan from her lips. She glanced up, seeing their reflection in the large mirror on the wall. So sexy. “Can you see our reflection in the mirrors?”

  Keys relinquished his mouth from her right breast. “Oh, that’s hot. So fucking hot.” He grabbed her hips and growled, “Sit on me. I’m going to watch you come all over my hard cock.”

  Mia’s fingers curled around the length of him, and she positioned him at her opening.

  “Oh, fuck, baby, that’s so hot. I can see your beautiful face reflected in the looking glass as I watch my cock slide home.” He bucked his hips, pushing himself inside. Then, he bit her neck, his eyes still trained on the mirror.

  This liberating wildness shot through her as he ground inside of her. The weight of Darion had pressed down on her for years. With Keys, she could finally be free.

  Their bodies continued to collide until they came, all the broken parts of them exploding into one giant cauldron of connected bliss. Then, they simply melted into stillness.

  After a time, Keys eased her back to look at her. “It’s weird, yeah?”

  “What’s weird?”

  “Feeling like a love-struck teenager. Because that’s what I feel when I’m around you.”

  Mia’s heart felt like it would fly from her chest. “I feel the same way, too, Keys.” But, could Darion wreck everything? If she knew Darion, she knew the answer was a big, fat, yes. She hoped with all her heart that she’d made the right decision to stay.

  Keys

  A week into “I glove you,” Keys’ world had become an extreme carnival ride of upside down and sideways, as he rode the ups and downs of opening himself up to intimacy. Sometimes he experienced a sense of elation, like catching a tube ride inside the barrel of a wave. At other times, when one of them would close down and push away, he rode a wave of fear, mired in thoughts of what might happen if she turned out to be a lunatic, like Sarah, or, if her asshole ex reappeared. He desperately hoped Mia wasn’t a “too good to be true” story, ending in his heart being obliterated, crushed to a pulp. He didn’t think he could recover twice in one lifetime from that kind of heartbreak. But, he reasoned, just like their “adventures” in Cancun, he would rather be zooming along a zip line than paddling about on a board in the sea.

  As he worked on a new song in his Muse Groove while waiting for her to arrive, inspiration struck. When the door buzzer rang at two-forty-five, he was so immersed in songwriting, he completely ignored the noise. The second time it rang, he looked up from his inspirational flow. Good move, Keys. Invite your new girlfriend over and get so immersed in songwriting you don’t even hear it when she arrives.

  He got up and rushed to the front door. Pressing the response button revealed her pretty face in the security camera on the monitor next to the door. “Come up, come up. I’ve got something to share with you,” he said excitedly.

  “I’m on my way,” she said.

  Two minutes later, she stepped from the elevator as he stood in the doorway to his apartment, waiting with the kind of elation a German shepherd might have for seeing its owner. “Hey, angel,” he said, eying her sexy body, sheathed in a short, red wool coat, with big black buttons and a huge black collar. A pair of thigh-high boots hugged her shapely legs.

  “Hi, Keys.” She rushed toward him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

  He tipped her chin up and kissed her soundly.

  When he released her, she looked up at him with bright eyes and said, “What a delicious greeting.”

  “There’s more where that came from.” He put his arm around her and guided her into his apartment. “I’ve got to play something for you before we head out. You cool with that?”

  “Of course. I always love to hear your music.”

  He grinned, took her hand, and led her into the Muse Groove. Once inside, he shut the door and strode to his piano. “Sit,” he said, indicating one of the chairs.

  She sat, unbuttoning her coat to reveal an even shorter black and white dress that hugged her luscious curves.

  “How can I concentrate when you look so good?” he said.

  “You’re equally as distracting,” she said, crossing one leg over the other. “Now, play whatever you want to play for me.”

  He pivoted on his piano bench, cleared his throat, and held his hands above the keys. Then, he played the new song which he’d named Night Lust. When finished, he whirled around. “What did you think?”

  “It’s beautiful. Now that’s a hot love song.” She tapped her lips with her fingertip, rose, and strode across the room to retrieve his acoustic guitar. “Do you mind if I play?”

  “Go right ahead,” he said, eager to hear her play.

  “Play the song again,” she said, perching at the edge of her chair.

  He nodded and began to touch the keys.

  Mia joined him, fumbling with the chords until she found the right ones.

  Keys smiled at her prowess with the guitar. Once he’d finished the song again, he said, “You know you have to play the guitar on our album.”

  “I’m a little rusty,” she said, setting the guitar aside. “And, I thought it was your breakout album, not ours.”

  “Rusty or not, that was fantastic. You’re really good. I say it’s a collaboration. Keys and Song.” He made a frame using his hands in front of his face. “Or, we can do Song and Keys, I don’t care.”

  “Yes, but the way my name reads, people will think the album is about a song.”

  “It doesn’t matter. Before long, the whole world will know about this hot-shit music
ian named Mia Song,” he said, grinning. “I’ve got an idea. We need to go somewhere before we eat.”

  “Where do you want to go?”

  “You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”

  “You know this is the first time we’ve been outside of one or the other’s apartments since we agreed to be a couple,” she said.

  “I guess it is.” Keys rose from his piano seat and extended his hand to her. When she took it, he pulled her close. He couldn’t seem to stop touching her when they were together.

  “So…” she said, her hands on his shoulders. “Don’t you think we should lay down some rules for how this plays out with our friends?”

  Keys let out a grunt. “I guess so. I’ve been enjoying you so much I haven’t given thought to much else. What are you thinking?”

  “Well…” she said, brushing her hands down his arms. “I’m not eager to shout out our relationship to Zander or any of my friends at the moment. Especially to Gia.”

  “That makes sense. Especially since we’re getting ready to depart from our respective places of employment.” He dropped his head to kiss her softly on the lips. She thrilled him to no end. Every touch, every gesture stoked a fire in his heart. He broke apart from her and said, “Let’s keep things on the D.L. until we’ve said our good-byes.”

  “Agreed. Maybe they won’t hate us at that point.”

  “Oh, I’m sure the band will hate me. They already do. Every practice ends up in a fight, and it’s all my fault. Or that’s what I keep hearing.” Keys swept his hands up and down her backside. “And if we don’t get going, I’m going to lay you down across my piano and fuck you senseless. Let’s go while I have a shred of restraint left. There’s something I need to get.”

  “Okay, friend,” she said, backing away from him.

  “With amazing benefits,” he said, already missing the touch of her. He grabbed his sunglasses and ball cap off the top of the piano where he’d left them. “Let’s go.”

  Outside, in front of the Dakota building, Keys hailed a cab. Dirty snow and ice still clung to the sidewalks, even though it was early March. When a yellow cab pulled up in front of the sidewalk, he opened the door for Mia, watching her slide her beautiful body into the back seat. All sorts of fantasies galloped through his brain as he watched her. His thoughts became thick and delicious as he pictured sliding his fingers inside her in the back seat of the car. But, then he remembered their experience with the nosy Uber driver and their agreement to not reveal their relationship yet. I’ll have to find a place more private.

  He gave the driver the address of his favorite music shop in Greenwich Village without giving the name. He hoped the address didn’t give it away.

  “What’s in Greenwich Village?” she said.

  “A lot of stuff is in Greenwich Village. Restaurants, clothing stores, shoe stores, bars, convenience stores…” He ticked them off on his fingers.

  “No, silly, where are we going?”

  “You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?”

  She shook her head but looked intrigued.

  Several minutes later, the cab pulled up in front of Renegade Music.

  “Is that our destination? What other instruments could you possibly need?” she said, eying the front of the brick building.

  “I’ll show you,” he said, sliding out of the car and holding the door for her. They proceeded toward the store, keeping a respectful distance apart.

  Inside Renegade, the walls were lined with photos of music legends. Even a photo of Marked Love adorned the walls.

  Musical instruments were arranged in sections. To the right, stood the keyboard section. Drum kits were in the back.

  “This way,” Keys said, removing his shades as he strode toward the wall of guitars that spanned the length of the building.

  “Why do you need a new guitar?” Mia said.

  “I don’t. You do.” He stroked her cheek with the side of his finger.

  “Me?” Her face lit up.

  “Absolutely. After hearing you play earlier, you need your ax.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “You’re going to start playing again, angel. With me.” When he eased back from her, Mia had tears in her eyes.

  “I sure hope those are good tears. I’d hate to know I made you cry so soon in our…” He glanced right and left, seeing no one. “Relationship,” he whispered.

  “I’m so happy with you, Keys. I’d hug you right now, but…you know. And, a guitar…I’m speechless.” She reached out and brushed her hand against one of the handmade beauties hanging on the wall.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Keys noticed someone approaching them. He stepped even further away from Mia to feign mere friendship with her.

  When the dude got closer, he said, “Keys. How’s it going, my man?”

  Keys turned to see his buddy, Simon. “Simon. I hoped you’d be here.” He exchanged a man-hug with Simon. “I’m buying a guitar for a friend of mine. This is Mia Song.”

  Mia turned and smiled at Simon. She put out her hand and said, “A pleasure to meet you.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine. Any friend of Keys’ is a friend of mine. What kind of guitar are you looking to get?” He grinned, revealing a gap-toothed smile.

  Mia looked thoughtful. “I’m not sure. I haven’t played for a while. I used to play both electric and acoustic.”

  “Get both,” Keys said.

  Mia gave a little shake of her head. “I couldn’t.”

  “You can, and you will. I’m buying,” Keys said. “Simon here builds all of the guitars he sells. The one you played in my studio is one of his.”

  “Wow,” Mia said. “The sound was awesome.”

  “Thank you.” Simon bowed, and his long, shaggy, gray-flecked hair fell over his head like a pony mane. When he righted himself, his hair spread around his head in typical disarray. Eying both Mia and then the guitars, he stroked his scruffy beard. “I tell you what. Let me go get something out of the back. One of the hall of Famers on the wall in the front came in recently requesting a new guitar. I took hers on a trade-in. It’s got some pre-loved juju in it—it’s a beloved instrument. The gal was hesitant to part with it until I talked her into a new one.”

  “Which hall of Famer was it?” Mia asked.

  Simon leaned forward and whispered in her ear.

  “Oh, my!” she said. “I’d be honored to hold it.”

  Simon nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

  She turned to Keys, excitement in her eyes. “I don’t know what to say, Keys. I’m thrilled to play again. But, you really don’t have to buy me both kinds of guitars.”

  Once again, he checked right and left to see if anyone was watching, then leaned forward and kissed her softly and quickly. “I know I don’t have to. I want to. I’m investing in the future. Our future…” An electric zing shot through his groin and belly as he said the word “future.”

  Simon returned a few minutes later, holding a sparkling silver and black guitar.

  Keys laughed. “I know who played that guitar. I saw her play at the Grammys with that baby.”

  Simon lovingly stroked the neck. “All the crystals on the body are hand placed. It’s got steel strings, good action, a nice little cutaway, so you easily play all the way up the neck… I was given permission to wow the owner with the build, so wow her I did. Here…” He handed the instrument to Mia. “Take it for a test drive.”

  Keys leaned against a column placed between one guitar display and the next and folded his arms. “It looks perfect for you.”

  Mia settled on one of the padded rosewood seats placed along the wall. She strummed a few riffs, getting the feel of the instrument. Then, she closed her eyes and played something heartbreaking and haunting.

  Keys looked at Simon and mouthed a “wow.”

  Simon gave an enthusiastic nod.

  If Keys had any doubt about loving Mia until that moment, all doubts dissipated in the wake of her playing that guitar. His soul seemed to vi
brate, completely mesmerized by the music.

  When she finished playing, applause broke out from every corner of the store.

  Keys put his fingers in his mouth and gave a loud whistle.

  Blushing, Mia opened her eyes.

  “I guaran-damn-tee you, you’re going up on the Hall of Fame wall,” Simon said, waving his arms toward the photo gallery. “Maybe I should get a picture of you today because I sure as shooting will be asked to put one up tomorrow.”

  Mia scoffed. “Thank you, but…”

  “No, buts about it, Miss Song. I get wannabes strolling through these doors all the time, thinking they’re God’s gift to musicality. But you’ve got the gift.” He stabbed the air emphatically.

  Keys beamed, unsure if he’d ever felt more happy to be alive in his life.

  “So, is this the one? I can show you a few more candidates,” Simon said.

  Mia shook her head. “No more. This one spoke to me.”

  Simon clapped Keys on the back. “Where’d you find this girl? Is she going to join Marked Love?”

  Keys quickly shook his head. “I think she’s got plans of her own.”

  Simon fished out a business card from his shirt pocket and handed it to her. “Take this. I know agents who would claw and scratch the others’ eyes out to get a chance to represent you. They’ll get you the gigs to rise straight to the top.”

  “Thank you, but, actually, I…” She looked at Keys.

  He pressed his lips together and gave a subtle shake of his head.

  “I’m honored to hear that. Thank you,” she said again.

  Simon grinned. “I woke up today, thinking it would be an ordinary day. But, then, I heard a musical angel. Oh, my heart,” he said, thumping his chest.

  Mia and Keys both laughed.

  “Now, let’s see what you can do with electric,” Simon said, striding toward the electric guitars hanging on the wall.

  Forty-five minutes later, purchases made and the promise of delivery tomorrow, Keys followed Mia out of the store into the rush and bustle of New York. Car tires made a wet thwap, thwap, thwap against the road. The sun had decided to make a late afternoon appearance, shoving the clouds from the sky as it sped toward the horizon. Keys welcomed its warmth. He even welcomed the water drip, drip, dripping from the rafters of buildings, trickling into the street from the snow piled at the edge of the sidewalks, and running down the sides of the street lamps.